At 117 years old, María Branyas was confirmed by Guinness World Records to be the world’s oldest living person — and researchers say her long life wasn’t just good luck.

In a statement to Guinness, Branyas attributed her longevity to “order, tranquility, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and staying away from toxic people.”

Born in San Francisco, California, Branyas moved to Spain with her family as a child, where she lived for most of her life.

Before her death on Aug. 19, 2024 , scientists at the Josep Carreras Institute in Barcelona, Spain, studied Branyas’ gene samples in an attempt to confirm the reasons for her longevity.

Led by Dr. Manel Esteller, head of the Cancer Epigenetics group a

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